Low-voltage starting system on high service mains



June 17, 1924. 1,498,346

W. W. BUCHER LOW VOLTAGE STARTING SYSTEM ON HIGH SERVICE MAINS Filed Aug. 20, 1917 55 as as' 6TH PT/NG WINNING attozuct Patented June 17 1924.

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1,498,346 PATENT OFFICE.

TO KOELER COMPANY, 01' KOHLER, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN. LOW-VOLTAGE STARTING SYSTEM ON HIGH SERVICE mmrs.

. Application filed Augult 20, 1917. Serial 1T0. 187,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Low-Voltage Starting System on High Service Mains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in low voltage starting systems on high voltage service mains and it pertains more especially to the features pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a low voltage starting system operable on ordinary high voltage service mains; to use a low voltage starting motor that may also act as a charging generator; to provide antomatic means for switching the mains from the high voltage generator to the low voltage starter; to provide a series coil on the service circuit to control the ignition system and also separately open and close the starter circuit; to provide a storage battery automatically chargeable from the low voltage starter acting as a generator; and to also effeet the charging of the storage battery from the high voltage generator through an interposed resistance.

This application constitutes a continua tion in part of my application Serial No. 81,718, filed March 2, 1916.

With these and other ends in view I illustrate diagrammatically, in the accompanying drawing an embodiment of my invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the various parts of the system in their stopping relation;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts, circuits, etc., in starting relation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to the running relation;

Fig. 4 is a detached view of a self-protectin switch applied to the service coil;

i 5 is a detail sectional view of the switc plate thereof.

In carrying out the invention in the form exemplified in the drawings, an engine 1, preferabl of the multi-cylinder type, has its shaft 2 irectly connected to a normal or high voltage generator 4 by means of an ordinary coup ing 3, and a similar coupling Fig. 1, showing W. BUCHElt, A

3 connects a starter 5 to the generator shaft. magneto 34 supplies ignition current through wires 61 to the spark plugs of the engine and is connected to the engine in any suitable manner as by means of a chain 33. The primary winding 35 of the magneto is grounded at one end, 62, and'the other or interrupter end is automatically connected to or disconnected from the ground by a switch 21 connecting Wire 58 with a grounded contact point 23. The secondary winding 36 of the magneto is grounded at one end and the other end is connected to a distributor in the usual manner. This specific relation of parts is immaterial as a battery system would be a practical equivalent of the magneto. The primary winding 35 is grounded so that the interrupter, not shown, is short circuited to render ignition inefiective by the wire 58 and its closed switch 21 when the engine 1 is to be stopped, and it remains grounded so long as the engine is idle. A hand switch disconnects wire 58 from the control switch 21 whenever such disconnection is desired.

The starter 5 is set into motion by means of current at a low voltage from battery 9 whenever a lamp 37 or other translating device is connected by switch 38 across service mains 39 and 40. When the circuit is closed at lamp 37 {see Fig. 2) current will flow from the battery past point 45, over wire 52 to point 23, switch lever 25, service wire 40, lamp 37, switch 38, the other service main 39, solenoid 11 to the battery over wire 54. This very weak current is suficiently strong to energize the solenoid 11 so as to move the core 12 with attached link 15, magneto switch lever 21 and starter switch lever 22. This movement breaks the magneto current at 23 to render ignition efi'ective and closes the starting circuit at 24 when a heavier current will pass from the battery 9, past junction 45, starter 5, emergency switch67, over wire 56 to point 32, over switch lever 31 and the other part of wire 56 to point 24, passing an emergency manual switch 66, over switch lever 22, wire 57 to point 43, wire 53, point 44 and back to the battery.

The starter will now be in operation and in a few moments the engine will have come to speed, causing the generator 4 to establish a potential in wires 50 and 51 dependent on the shunt resistance 10 of its field circuit. Current at this potential will flow over wire 51 past pointi49, manual switch 63,

solenoid 6, over wires 60 and "past point 48 and back to the generator by wire 50, thus energizing solenoid 6 to move its core with attached link and switch levers 25, 26 and 31 into the position shown in Fig. 3. By this action the generator current will be delivered to the service mains 39 and 40, the switch lever 26 serving to connect service main 39 with generator terminal Wire 51 and switch lever 25 serving to connect service main 40 with generator terminal wire 50. The solenoid 11 being included in the service main 39 will remain energized so long as current passes through the mains, which will be as long as the demand for service is made. For re-charging the battery from the generator 4 a path of current flow may.

be traced as follows: from generator 4 through wire 50, closed switch 25, wire 40 to point 46, through wire 55 including resistance 41 past manual switch 68 and point 45 to battery 9 and through wire 54 to point 47 wire 39 closed switch 26 and wire 51 back to generator. The switch 31 may be connected with or detached from the core 7 of solenoid 6 and when so connected the starter 5 is not cut ofi from the battery 9 until the generator 4 delivers its current at its rated voltage. Dependence is then placed on the resistance 41 to reduce the voltage of the re-charging circuit through the battery while the battery is being re-charged by the generator 4, as above traced.

If, however, it is desired to use the starter 5 to recharge the battery 9, the switch 68 would be opened and switch 31 would be disconnected from the core of solenoid 6, keeping the circuit closed at this point and controlled entirely by switch 22. This recharging circuit may be traced from starter 5 acting asa generator, through wire 56, switch 31, wire 56, switch 22, wires 57 and 53, through battery 9 back to generator. The switch 22 remains closed so long as there is a demand for current on the service mains 39 and 40. When the service demand ceases there is no current flow through solenoid 11 and it becomes deenergized, causing its core to drop and move the switches 22 and 23 back to the position of Fig. 1 so that switch 21 grounds the magneto to stop the engine and at the same time switch 22 opens.

Links 15 and 59 may be insulated between the several switch levers in any desired manner. Besides manual switch 68 to control the battery charging from generator 4 a manual switch 64 in the generator circuit and similar switches 65, 66 and 67 are pro- 'vided for testing and other purposes.

The solenoid 11 is composed of two coils one of which forms a fine wire winding 20- of many turns to do the work of moving the switches 21 and 22 under the weak low voltage current from the battery when demand is made on the service mains and the other forms a comparatively larger wire winding 19 of much less resistance and brought into parallel relation with the coil 20 when the switches have been moved and serving to retain the switches in their moved position not only during the short remainder of the time that the battery continues in circuit but throughout the time that the generator suplies the service mains and until there is not urther demand for service on the mains. The low resistance winding 19 is closed in parallel with the high resistance winding 20 by the engagement of a contact disk 16 on the solenoid core 12 with contacts 18, thus bridginga break in the coarse wire winding.

From the detailed description it will be apparent that this system is. simple in all its connections and entirely automatic, having an exceptionally sensitive starting response to minimum demands for current on the service mains notwithstanding the use of a low' voltage battery.

It is immaterial whether a separate age service mains whenever a demand arises on such mains for current and serving through automatic means to set the system into operation with current from the same low voltage source.

The use of the terms standard or high voltage for the purpose of this description indicates approximately 110 to 115 volts, and the term low voltage indicates approximately 24 volts or less, or any low voltage practicable to start the system. The difference between the generator and battery voltages is not limited to the specific ratio mentioned. Any battery voltage used on the service mains which does not bring the lights up to normal candle power within admissible practical limits, regardless of the voltages of the accessories or of the generator, will, with respect to these be considered low and the voltage of such generator and accessories will be considered high.

What I claim is:

1. In automatic electric generating systems, an internal combustion engine, a high voltage generator and a low voltage starter connected to the engine, a magneto for the engine, a low voltage battery, service mains supplied with current from the high voltage enerator, magnetic means in series with suc mains and operated by the batter current on the mains to automatically ma e the magneto operative, means oper-,

ated' by the magnetic means adapted to direct current to the starter from the battery, and independent magnetic means connected to the generator and ada ted to disconnect the service mains from t e battery and to connect them to the generator.

2. In electrical generating systems, a generator, an engine connected thereto, an electric starter, service mains connected to the generator, a low voltage source of current, a current consuming device such as a lamp connected to the mains, a magnet in series therewith, windings thereon comprising fine and coarse coils, automatic means adapted toconnect the low volta e source of current with the fine coil and t e mains when there is no demand on the mains, and means operated by the magnet when a demand is made on the mains for placing the coarse coil in parallel relation with the fine coil to receivecurrent from the same low voltage source and for connecting the starter with the low voltage source to start the engine and for continuing the coarse coil in service as long as there is a demand for current on the service mains.

3. In combination with a gas engine op erated generator, and,.a stora e' batte and service mains, a control swltch having a fine winding in circuit with the battery and the mains to be energized by a service demand, an engine ignition means in a circuit controlled by the control switch, a starting circuit also controlled by the control switch, a main switch having a windin connected in circuit with the generator an energized when the generator is driven by the engine, said control switch havin a coarse wire winding, a circuit control ed by the main switch and including said coarse wire winding and the mains and the generator, said main switch having an interlock included in the starting circuit, and a chargin resistance in circuit with the battery and the generator and controlled by the main switch. I

4. In combination with a gas engine operated generator, and a storage batte service mains, a control swltch havlng a fine winding in circuit with the battery and the mains to be energized by a service demand, an engine ignition means in a circuit controlled by the control switch, a

and'

erated generator, and a storage battery and service mains, a control switch having a fine winding in circuit with the battery and the mains to be energized by a service demand, an engine ignition means in a .circuit controlled by the control switch, a starting circuit also controlled by the'control switch, a main switch having a windin connected in circuit with the generator an energized when the generator is driven by the engine, said control switch having a coarse wire winding, a circuit controlled by the main switch and including said coarse wire winding and the mains and the generator, and an interlock on the main switch included in the starting circuit.

6. In combination with a gas engine operated generator and its mains, a control switch serving both as, a starting-and running control, a battery supplying initial.

current to the control switch magnet through the mains, an engine ignition circuit made-operative and inoperative by the control switch, a main switch, a enerator connected to the magnet thereof, t e mains being supplied by the generator through the main switch, an engine starting means controlled by the control switch, an interlock in the circuit of said engine startin means controlled by the main switch, an means operated by the main switch to, cause the battery to be charged from the generator.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM W. BUCHER. Witnesses O. H. CHAMBERLAIN, LILAH Hue. 

